Good title, no?
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Chapter 10- Bravery? Or stupidity?
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Divination did prove to be extremely boring; almost more so than History of Magic, which was saying something. The teacher, Professor Trelawney, seemed to take an unusual interest in him, which, fortunately for them, gave the rest of the class something more interesting to talk about.
Kakashi was extremely thankful by the end of the period that he did not have to do homework because the rest of the fifth years had picked up quite a lot, and he wasn't very eager to keep a dream journal. Mainly because he didn't dream anymore.
Next up was Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Kakashi knew as soon as he entered the room that something felt off. He couldn't tell what exactly it was, but it was there.
It definitely had something to do with Umbridge.
Again, she was wearing pink, and Kakashi wondered if all her clothes were bubble gum hewed, or if she just decided to wear it on that particular day. Either way, it was weird. Probably she just wanted people to pay attention to her. Go figure. He took his seat behind Harry.
In a ridiculous falsely sweet voice, she asked them to copy the course aims from the board and then to begin reading their textbooks. Kakashi, out of sheer boredom, copied the words and began reading, but he was interrupted. Hermione had her hand up, and Umbridge was determinedly ignoring her. He dropped his quill and picked it up, trying to get her attention, but she didn't back off, continuing to stare Umbridge down. Finally, when most of the class was distracted, the professor called on her.
"Professor, there's nothing in the course aims about using defensive spells," she said.
"Using them?" Professor Umbridge returned incredulously, "You surely aren't expecting to be attacked during class?"
Kakashi watched as more of the class joined in the discussion. He did see Hermione's point, only all too clear. If things were so bad or were going to get worse that they needed to bring him in, then yes, they were going to use defensive spells. But as he watched, he began to see that the conversation was getting out of hand.
"Who do you think would want to attack you?" Umbridge asked in her awful honey laced voice.
"Maybe Lord Voldemort?!" Harry practically shouted at her.
Most of the people in the room flinched or gasped or twitched at the sound of the name, apart from Harry, Kakashi, and Umbridge. Kakashi wanted to talk some sense into these kids; a mere name had them cowering. Pathetic.
"Listen to me, all of you, very carefully," Umbridge said slowly, again making Kakashi think he was being treated like a five year old, "You have been informed that a certain dark wizard has returned from the dead and is now at large. This is a lie."
"It is NOT a lie!" Harry shouted, "I fought him!"
The sense that something was wrong climbed higher.
"Potter," Kakashi hissed.
"I repeat, this is a lie," Umbridge said to the class, "No dark wizard is going to harm you. Now if you'll all continue reading, please." Her voice was still mildly sweet, but she was struggling to keep it that way.
Harry stood. In Kakashi's head, the threat level went up.
"Cedric Diggory was murdered by Voldemort. I saw it!"
In a flash, Kakashi jumped over the desk and stood behind Harry, clamping a hand on his shoulder. He twitched slightly but still glared at the professor.
"Shut up, Potter," Kakashi spat, "Something's off about her, and you're only making it worse. I know people like this. She'll hurt you."
"What did you say?" Umbridge's shrill voice rang out. Kakashi only glared at her, trying to get a read on her. A tinge of red was creeping up her neck. She was furious. He hadn't realized how far his words would carry in the scared-silent room. His other hand unconsciously inched towards his holster.
"Both of you come here," she ordered.
Harry kicked his chair angrily and marched up to the front of the room, shrugging Kakashi's hand off. The shinobi followed close behind. They stopped in front of the desk. Umbridge wrote something on a piece of pink parchment, rolled it up, sealed it and gave it to Harry.
"Take this to Professor McGonagall, dear," she said calmly, though Kakashi could tell that it was forced.
Harry turned and strode out the door without looking back. Kakashi followed, but he caught Hermione's eye, giving her a look that said 'watch out'. He hoped that she could tell him if anything else happened.
As soon as they were out the door, Kakashi grabbed Harry's arm and whirled him around.
"What the hell was that?" Kakashi asked, "You can't just go yelling out stuff like that! Are you trying to get killed?"
Harry tried to jerk his arm away, but Kakashi held him fast.
"Let go of me," Harry ordered in a dangerously low voice.
"No. Shut up and listen," Kakashi commanded. Harry stared determinedly back at him. "I may not be from here, but I know a threat when I see one. At least trust me on that. You are making a target out of yourself. She hates you now, and she'll do whatever she has to do to make your life miserable. And then you get expelled, and I can't protect you. That's where this road goes. Don't go down it any farther than you already have."
Harry looked away, and Kakashi released his arm.
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Basically, McGonagall told Harry the same thing that Kakashi did, but much more calmly. Kakashi made sure the frustrated wizard found Ron and Hermione, and then left quietly.
He definitely needed to have a word with Dumbledore.
He had dentention for a week, thanks to Potter. A week! Time that could be much better spent going over security or training. That idiot. No wonder bad things happen to him so often, he makes it easy!
He turned down another corridor, hoping that he could remember where the looming stone gargoyle stood. Stupid castle had a million hallways.
He took a few deep breaths. Nothing would be solved by complaining. He needed to talk to Dumbledore diplomatically, and being mad wasn't going to help that.
On the one hand, maybe it was a good thing he was in detention with Potter. He would have a hard time keeping an eye on him otherwise. And maybe he could learn more about Umbridge this way. There was definitely something about her… He didn't know what it was, but she was after something, and Kakashi knew that she would do what she had to, to get it.
He made a left and spotted the gargoyle. How did McGonagall open it?
"Uh, red licorice," he announced awkwardly.
The statue leaped aside, again revealing the spiral staircase leading up. Kakashi climbed it, but was greeted this time before he could knock.
"Enter, Kakashi."
He did and sat in the same chair he had occupied that morning.
"Already a week's worth of detention on the first day? That might be a school record," Dumbledore commented, looking over his glasses at the young shinobi. He fiddled absent mindedly with a quill on his desk.
"I have Potter to thank for that," Kakashi said accusingly, "It's a miracle he isn't dead yet with the way he's going."
"And what way would that be?" Dumbledore raised a gray eyebrow.
"He keeps making a spectacle of himself, even though, clearly, he's entering a situation that could be dangerous. He needs to learn to control himself, or he'll get himself killed," Kakashi explained.
Dumbledore looked thoughtful, "Yes, Harry thinks with his heart more often than his head. He stands up for what he thinks is right and true, without thought of himself. Most would call that bravery."
"Or stupidity," Kakashi contradicted. He thought of Obito briefly, "The two are often interchangeable."
The headmaster smiled, "Perhaps. Though I don't think you will get Harry to change his ways easily. That reckless bravery is a common trait in Gryffindors."
Speaking of Gryffindors…
"I didn't appreciate the hat," Kakashi said abruptly.
"My apologies," Dumbledore offered, still playing with the quill, "I had to have a ready explanation for the students, that way they knew who you were and we could avoid ridiculous rumors about your identity."
"And you're sure that the ones who do know won't tell?" Kakashi pressed.
"If you're referring to the Weasley twins, no, they won't tell a soul. They may be pranksters, but they've been living with the Order; they know how important it is. They have much better things than you to worry about, from what I've heard."
Uh huh. Kakashi decided that he should pay more attention to those two.
"Now, then," Dumbledore continued after a pause, resting the quill on his desk, "I'm sure you have more pressing questions to ask."
Dumbledore answered any question that Kakashi asked. The shinobi learned about Lord Voldemort and his followers, dark magic, dementors, Cedric Diggory, the Triwizard Tournament, and most importantly, the significance of Harry Potter.
"So, because his mother died to protect him, he was shielded from Voldemort's attack?" Kakashi clarified for the second time.
"Yes," Dumbledore agreed patiently, "The oldest form of magic. Lord Voldemort was ignorant of it, and it proved to be his mistake."
"And what is the oldest form of magic?" Kakashi asked, still not comprehending.
Dumbledore leaned forward, "Love."
"Love," Kakashi repeated flatly.
The professor nodded. He saw the doubt in the shinobi's eyes and elaborated.
"Lily Evans gave her own life so that her son might live; there is no stronger shield than that."
Kakashi wasn't even close to being convinced, but he continued anyway.
"The Ministry of Magic," he began, "What are they?"
Dumbledore cleared his throat before answering, "The Ministry is our government. It is much different than your own, as your leader is chosen because he is the strongest of shinobi in your country. We have the Minister of Magic, who is elected by popular vote."
"And the Ministry sent Umbridge?"
"Yes, the Ministry sent Professor Umbridge, to keep an eye on things here, or more accurately, keep an eye on me, as it were. The Minister seems to be under the impression that I am trying to undermine him."
"Are you?" Kakashi asked.
Dumbledore shook his head, "No, I have no desire to be Minister of Magic. I never have."
Kakashi remembered what Hermione told him about Dumbledore.
"Brilliant, a bit eccentric, but really brilliant… He's been asked to be Minister three times, but it never appealed to him, I guess."
Well, he was certainly eccentric.
"Kakashi," Dumbledore addressed him, jolting the ninja out of his thoughts, "It is imperative that Professor Umbridge not know who you are and remain ignorant of your presence. If word got out that there is a shinobi at Hogwarts… Most people do not know what a shinobi is, including the Minister, but I believe that Lord Voldemort does. I am worried that he may try to infiltrate the castle, should he find out."
Kakashi was fixed with an intense stare.
"Yes, sir," Kakashi replied before he could stop himself. The stare was nearly the same as the Hokage's: determined, unwavering.
Dumbledore nodded. "Good. Then you will be joining Harry in detention."
Kakashi considered the irony that the headmaster of the school had just told him that it was good he was in detention.
"I… overheard that you have something that needs guarding. What is it?" Kakashi asked, unable to keep the slightest hint of eagerness out of his voice.
This was the first time that Dumbledore seemed to consider whether he should answer the question or not. It only made Kakashi want to know the answer more, and he was relieved when the professor opened his mouth to speak.
"We have an advantage this time around that we did not have before," he paused, "It is safely hidden, but beyond that, I'm afraid I can't say anything."
"Why?" Kakashi immediately protested, "If it has something to do with—"
"It will not affect your protection duties, I assure you," Dumbledore interrupted calmly.
Kakashi fumed silently for a moment. He was going to say "if it has something to do with the war", not protecting Potter. Maybe Dumbledore knew that and beat him to it.
"How bad would it be if the enemy got their hands on this… advantage?" Kakashi queried.
Dumbledore looked out his window for a moment, seemingly wondering the same thing himself.
"Very bad," he replied simply.
"But I still can't know what it is."
"No, I'm afraid not."
An awkward silence ensued. The sun was setting outside the castle walls, casting an orange glow throughout the room. Kakashi examined dust particles floating in the air when another question hit him. He turned his attention back to the headmaster.
"How do you know the Hokage?"
Dumbledore chuckled, "That is much too long a story for this evening. You should be going; it is nearly dark outside. You have a long day tomorrow."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. Not the best of excuses, but who was he to judge?
The shinobi stood, "Good night."
"Good night, Kakashi."
--
Yup. So, about the Rin thing. I've had mixed opinions on this. The very slight majority agreed that putting her in would be a good thing, so I probably will, but not for a few chapters yet. Most of the concerns were about her taking away from Kakashi's spotlight and how she'll come in, stuff like that. That being said: 1, Kakashi is the main character, end of story. Everything, minus the occasional view of Harry, is told through his perspective. Because he's awesome. 2, I will figure out some clever way to put her in there; I won't just randomly have her show up. No, that's stupid and boring. Worries abated? Hopefully. Any other questions, just review. And you know, review anyway. Thanks!